ELM GROVE, Wis. — A Wisconsin associate principal was named the Assistant Principal of the Year.

Elizabeth “Liz” Nelson, associate principal for Pilgrim Park Middle School in Elm Grove, won the 2025 Middle Level Principal of the Year award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

“Liz exemplifies outstanding leadership and dedication in her role as Associate Principal at Pilgrim Park Middle School,” Principal Kelly Szesterniak said. “Her commitment to building a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment has made a significant impact on both students and staff. This award is a testament to her commitment, hard work, integrity and dedication to excellence.”

The annual award recognizes leaders who have outstanding contributions to “student success, school improvement and educational leadership.” Each state can select a middle school and high school assistant principal to represent them.

Nelson was chosen from Wisconsin and ended up being one of six finalists.

“Assistant principals are the unsung heroes of education, working tirelessly behind the scenes to create safe, supportive environments where students can thrive,” NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe said. “Liz Nelson exemplifies what it means to lead with innovation and heart, transforming her school into a student-centered community of learning. At NASSP, we are proud to celebrate her achievements and remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting school leaders nationwide.”

Nelson has served as an associate principal at Pilgrim Park Middle School since 2020.

In her time at the school, she’s helped establish several initiatives that led to student success, including a behavior management leadership team that ended up leading to a 40% reduction in behavior referrals. She’s also helped facilitate 35 student-driven clubs and has achieved a 12% increase in student belonging.

Nelson was previously named the Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA). She received that recognition in November.

“Liz is an exceptional leader who reflects the strength and promise of the next generation of school leadership,” said Jim Lynch, executive director of AWSA. “She models excellence, collaboration, and care in every aspect of her work. We proudly join the NASSP in celebrating her success.”